Curtain-stretcher.



H. E. SOU'FHWOR'FH.1 v

GUBTAIN STRETCHER APPLICATION FILED A2919, 1909.

Patented Aug. 3, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Y L l H. E. SOUTHWORTH.

CURTAIN STRETHER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 19, 1909. V 929,991 Patented Aug. 3, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

weizwf prrirn srarns E ATENT OFFICE.

HENRY E. SOUTHWORTH, OF GOLGHESTER, VERMONT, ASSIGNOR TO PORTER SCREEN MANUFACTURING COMPANY,

OF BURLINGTON, VERMONT.

CURTAN-STRETCHER.

To all whom it mrifi/ concern:

Be it known that l., HENRY E. SOUTH- woa'ri-i. a citizen of the United States, residing at Colchester, in the county oi' Chittenden and State of Tferinont, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Curtain.- Stretchers, of which the following is a speciii'cation.

My invention relates to that class of curtain stretchers in which the side rails are composed each of two sections. the abutting ends of which are connected to stitfening plates to which are secured the ends of a center brace extending across betiif'een the two rails, in order to stillen the traine and prevent it troni sagging; and it has inore particular reference to that kind of such stretchers, wherein the two sections of each side rail are not permanently hinged together, but are each detachably connected to, and individually removable from, the sti'ener plate through the ineiiliuin of which they are held together-as illustrated for example in niy prior patent No. 855,908 of June 4, i907.

The invention consists in certain iinprovei'nents in this kind or curtain stretcner-having reference inore particularly to the iiieans for the better holdingl of the sectional side bars to their sti'll'ener plates and for their more convenient and expeditious removal therefroin-which will first be described in and will then be more particularly pointed out in the clanns.

In the drawingsFigure i is a front view 1 embracing the abutting ends of the side` rails, the stillener plates and the central cross i bar. Fig. 3 is a section on line 3 3, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the sti'l'ener plates', together with thc end of the center brace attached to the saine.

and end rails B, united at the corners of the length and width ot the traine to be varied as desired. The side rails consist each of two separate and disconnected sections put together end to end. The trarne rails are .put together so that the end rails B overlap at one end the side rails, and are overlapped by the side rails at the other end, thus per- Specifcation of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 19, 1999.

i Lg. 2 is a view of the opposite I Patented Aug. e, 1909.

Serial No. 490,797.

Initting each half of the frame to be folded coinpactly, as illustrated and described in iny Patent No. 855,908.

rlhe metallic stitlening plates, which connect the meeting ends ol' the side rail sections, are shown at C. These plates extend across the joints between meeting ends ol' the side rail sections, and are carried by the center brace D, to the opposite ends of which they are secured. One of the plates is tixedly secured to the center brace by a rivet or bolt c, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The other plate is adjustably secured to the other end ol' the center brace by a headed bolt c, the screw threaded shank of which extends through a slot d l'ornied in and lengthwise ol' the center brace, and is there held in adjusted position by a wing nut c2.

ln order to prevent any swiveling movenient oi the plates@ on bolts c, c, and to enable the parts to niore effectively resist any such strains, the bolts c, c are located each near one edge of its plate, while at or near the opposite edge ol' said plate there are ears or flanges e punched ironi the body ol' the plate and bent rearwardly so as to embrace and bear against the center brace from opposite sides. In this way the center brace and plate are held together against any swiveling movement whatever. The sections of the side rails A are detachably secured to their connection with the accoinp anying drawings,

stiiiener plates by bolts and wing nuts m, frz. in each plate on each side oi' where the center race cornes, is lorrned a slot o, extending lengthwise ol' the plate and terminating at its outer end in an enlarged opening j) ol` su'hicient size to allow the head of a bolt fm to pass through it. The Shanks of the bolts m extend through. the side rail sections from rear (where the stiil'ener plates are) to iront.

ln iitting the sections together and to their stiiener plates, the heads oi' the bolts are 1 passed l'roin front to rear through the openl ings p and then the sections are slid inwardly The stretcher frame consists of side rails A upon the plates C until their ends abut, and

.` the shanls ol' the bolts m enter the slots o. frame where they overlap, by the usual slot bolt and wing nut connections, to permit the Then by a turn or two ol' the wing nuts all the parts will be secured together, and the I stretcher will be set up. On the other hand,

, drawn apart until the heads ol the bolts m reach the openings p, and then the side rail sections can be lifted away from the stitl'ener the nuts are loosened, then the strap, as

m caused to enter the slots 0.

plates, thus separating the frame into two halves, the three parts of each of which can be folded together without disturbing any of the adjustments of the frame, or manipulating any other nuts or bolts.

In order to enhance the stiffness of the central joints, I prefer to form the stiflener plates with flanges C on their outer edges which fit against the outer edges of the side rail sections; but this construction is not indispensable. So also with a view to the greater solidity and stiffness of the joint, I may swivel on the shank of the bolt m of one side rail section, a metal strap E Which eX- tends across the joint between the two sece tions of the side rail and has in its edge a slot e', which, when the strap is turned in the proper direction, will be entered by the shank of the bolt m on the contiguous section as represented in Fig. 1. When the strap is in this position, it will be held rigidly by tightening the nuts n. As soon as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, can, like a latch, be swung back on bolt m on which it is swiveled, so as to be disengaged from the other bolt, This construction also is a nicety rather than a necessity, and can be dispensed with if desired.

Iith stiffening plates thus formed, it is an easy and simpleinatter to set up and take down the stretcher frame; and after the frame is once adjusted to any desired size, it can be maintained indefinitely of that size, whether it be set up or taken down, without disturbing any one of the bolts and nuts which imite the side and end rails at the corners, and the stifl'ener plates with the center brace. JAll that is needed is the tightening and loosening of the nuts n of the bolts fm which unite the side rail sections with their stiii'ening plates, In setting up the frame, the side rail sections attached to the respective end rails, can be unfolded and laid flat against their stiffener plates in position for the heads of the bolts m to enter and pass through the openings p. Then, by a slight sliding movement of the two sections of each rail toward each other, their ends can be brought together, and the Shanks of the bolts And then by a mere turn or two of the nuts n, the whole frame thus set up becomes a practically rigid l construction. are formed within the limits or borders of the stiii'ener plate, which thus retains its strength unimpaired.

Having described my improvements and the best way now known to me of carrying the same into effect I state in conclusion that I do not limit myself narrowly to the structural details hereinbefore set forth, since manifestly the same can be varied to some extent without departure from my invention; but

What I claim herein as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a curtain. stretcher of the kin d hereinbefore referred to, a center' brace; stiener plates C secured to and carried by the center brace, adjustable one to and from the other, and formed each with a longitudinal slot o and opening p communicating therewith, on each side of where the'center brace comes; and sectional side rails composed each of two separate and independent sections provided at their abutting ends with bolts m having heads adapted to pass through the openings p, and shanls adapted to enter the slots o, and nuts 'n whereby said sections are detachably held to their respective stiffener plates, substantially as hereinbefore set forth.

2. In a curtain stretcher of the kind hereinbefore referred to, a center brace, a stiffener plate secured to the same formed with a longitudinal slot o and communicating opening p on each side of where the center brace comes, a side rail composed of two separate and independent sections provided at their abutting ends with bolts and nuts WL n whereby they are detachably secured to the stiffener plate, and a latch strap on the face of the sectional side rail opposite to that on which the stiffener plate is located, swiveled on one of the bolts m, formed with a slot to engage the shank of the other bolt, and clamped in place by the same nuts n by which the side rail sections are clamped to the stifl'ener plate, substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY E. SOUTIINORTH.

Vlitnesses:

J. H. JAooBs, JAMES O. WALKER.

The slots and openings o, p, 

